Bucket return for tractor loaders



June 6, 1950 R. M. ULRICH BUCKET RETURN FOR TRACTOR LOADERS Filed. Aug. 23, 1948 fizvenzz fu figymond MZZZI'Z'Ck Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to a loader for a tractor and more particularly to a mechanism for returning the bucket of a tractor loader.

In my co-pending patent applications Serial Number 758,299, Loader for tractor, and Serial Number 758,300, Bucket for tractor loader, both filed July 1, 1947, there is shown a tractor loader having a bucket or shovel which may be tripped inorder to unload the loader. In such tractor loader the elevating mechanism was lowered so that the bucket engaged the ground, thereby to cause it to be restored to its original position whereupon a latching mechanism engaged the bucket to hold it in such position during the time that the bucket was being loaded and the load was being elevated.

For certain operations it would be desirable to have an arrangement whereby the bucket would be returned to its load carrying position prior to the time that the bucket reaches the ground. It is believed that this will be self-evident to anyone where the tractor loader is to pick up material or portions of a load at a height some distance above the ground. It, therefore, became highly desirable to provide a relatively simple mechanism which would accomplish the desired result without materially increasing the cost of the tractor loader.

It, therefore, is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple mechanism for returning the bucket of a tractor loader to its load carrying position without necessitating the engagement of the bucket with the ground.

Other and further objects of the present invention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the bucket return mechanism when the bucket is in unloading position;

Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1 showing the bucket in load carrying position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in, Fig. 2 as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view partially in cross-section as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

The loader of the type referred to has two parallel load carrying beams which are of I-beam or channel construction, carrying at their outer extremities a pivotally supported bucket.

The

I-beams are pivotally connected to a suitable support arranged in the proximity of the rear of the-- A pair of bell crank levers raise and' tractor. lower the I-beams by means of rollers which travel within the channel of the beams. One

of the I-beams II is provided with a bucket return mechanism which is connected to the U- shaped pivotal support 12 which is welded to the side of the bucket. For the sake of clarity in the disclosure the bucket l3rhas been illustrated only by dash-dot lines. Each of the I-beams ll carries at its outer extremity an apertured ex-.

tension plate M which is welded to the web of the I-beams II. The I-beam II on its inner upper flange is provided with an angle iron l5 welded into position. The angle iron 15 serves to provide a flat surface for engagement by a roller l6 positioned within the channel portion of the I-beam I I. The roller I B is carried by a shaft 11 which fits within a tubular member or pipe [8 which extends between the two parallel I-beams II. The tubular member I8 is engaged by lifting arms Or bell cranks actuated from a suitable source of power such as a pair of hydraulic pistons and cylinders.

When the beams H are raised to their upper position the rollers I6 are considerably to the left of the position shown in Fig. 1. As the beams are lowered the rollers I 6 travel toward the right until they reach a position substantially that shown in Fig. 2. As the beams continue to be" lowered the rollers 16 again move toward the.

right.

The 'U-shaped members I! which are welded to the bucket l3 are provided with suitable apertures for receiving a bolt 2| which is held in. position by a nut 22. The bolt 2| passes through a suitable opening in'the beam extension mem-,.

ber 14 so as to pivotally mount the bucket between the outer extremities of the beams ll.

between one side of the extension member 14 and the U-shaped support l2.

Between the other side of the extension member l4 and the U-shaped support 12 there are provided a plurality of spacing collars or sleeves 24 and 25 between which ismounted a member 26. The member 26 has welded thereto a plate suitable spacing washer or collar 23 is provided such as a rivet. The arm 28 at its outer end is connected to a cylindrical or tubular portion 29 which has a threaded bore for receiving a cap screw 3| which may be held in adjusted position by a lock nut 32. By means of the cap screw 31 and the lock nut 32 the effective length of the member 28 may be varied to obtain proper operation of the bucket return mechanism. This adjustment is provided since the tractor loading mechanism 'may ibe'arramged Eb mavevdiiferent. ranges of'tr'a-vel of the "arm II *by adjusting thelength of the arm which carries the cross-member I8 and the rollers Hi. The adjustment also serves its purpose for accommodating" the variations; 'found between loaders adapted for different I makes of tractors. The outer tubular portien m of the arm 28 is supported by .a projectinglug 33;

which bears against the inner surface of one channel, of the I-beams II. The member ,33 therefore travels along tfl'i'e flange of the I-beams 125 ate-keep thenefiective extremity? 33 :etthe member as inrsuoh positinn-tthat it be acted upen hythearollersdfia- 7 I 7 1 It Will; be recognized that: the [member .2 8. to- I gether with-the member ,2'16:-comprises-;a crank. mechanism forr-returnmgtheubuoketutotloadi care rytng. position engaging: ,the 7 ELL-shaped support of thebncket-J 3- 01: anyeether-suitable/projeetienr provided on the bucket Befor this ,pur-

pgsgi 7 Assuming that rtherbucketel 3;has=b eeneunloadedand that the pivoted arms or. I bearns LL are heingalowered, the.positiomisesubstantially that shown in Fig. )1 this fi ure the roller Minis jmt-inengagementwviththe extremity elect the member 2iii-so rthat -.the .,memher lit-is iii-engagementwith-the -L -shaped ,member 1:2 which is .at-

tached .to; the lmi ';ket.. A: :fnnther movement ref thetroller I16 towardthe lefit as ,seen in-Eig-. l.

willlcauselthe member 23! .torotate until-the positioneofvthe parts issubstantially that shown Rig, 2. -WIhen the-parts approach the: position shown in Fig.2 thelatching: mechanisnrnoremale 1y providedfior .heldi'ng .the bucket. 13min loadcarrying position willbenengagedsoflasito retain. thebucketl'imthis-position. Asubsequentiloweringofathe-beam hli produces amnvement .ef-irthe roller @l 6 toward the-r-right hut the. -.hucket..,l ii remains ,insleadscarrying position". Fromjhisit is apparent thatiaerelatively simple attachment 7 provided iorreturningthe bucket toilead; carryin flpasifiion prior to-the time .thatthe. ,bucketis lowered so as to be substantially in contact with.

thergnound, e

miile-ior the purposeeoi illustrating. and, describing the ,present invention a preferred .embodi'menthas .beensshown in the drawings, it is tabenndenstood lthat thefinvention is, to be limited thereby since isuchr var'iations. in. the

V arrangemento'i the. componentsandih their con s'truction is contemplated asemay Joecommensm rate the spirit; scope. of the invention traveling within the channel portion of said beams, a member pivotally mounted adjacent said bucket at the end of one of said beams, a rod pivotally connected to said member, said rod being arranged to move within the channel portion of one of said beams Whenever the end thereof is engaged by one of said rollers, and means mounted on said bucket for engagement by said pivotally mounted member, whereby the posi tienreif sa'idfibucket mayibie changed 2. In a tra'ct'or loader having apair of levers each pivotally mounted at one end on the tractor, means for raising and lowering said levers inzcludmg roklerszarranged to support the free ends of said levers, said rollers being arranged to travel iha path along the lever adjacent the free rendthereof, abucket pivotally mounted at the extremities of said levers, a bucket engaging member pivotally mounted at the free end of one of said levers, a pitmarf pivotally connected to said member, thefireevendwotl said :pitman being arranged to travel along a portionot-saidxneller pathzeamii' to=be engaged by the roller; therein",

atone: end-won the tractor; a bucket, means TSQT- GllBB'i'llO fsaidxbuchetbfor .pivotally mounting :said

bucket between the free -ends' of :sai'd levers,

means-tor raising and-lowering said levers in cludinggrleyer means having supporting rollers inengagement with .saidi-levers' :in the proximity Off their tree aends a pivoted member mounted. to; antnate with said; bucket mounting means and: arranged to engage: said: bucket mountingmeans,

and a rod pivotally connected to said member saidurod: having its other zendaarranged to, be -engaged by ene of. said rollers and to. travel. in a palthwparallel to' the pathei travel of said roller.

4. In a tractor loader, the combination comprising-wag pair of levers each: pivotally mounted atscne'endwon the ftracter; meansg-for raising and-- lowering said levers including lever means having supporting rollers in' engagement with said leuerszinthe proximityof their ,free ends, a bucket,

means-securedcto said bucket .for pivotally mounting said bucket betweentherfree ends of said levers, a pivoted member mountedxcoaxially with said bucket mounting means for engagement thereby; a rod .pivotally-connected to saidl-memeber, ;saidrod having its other end arranged tobe engaged one 'of said rollers and to travel in a path parallel to the path of travel of said.

roller, and :meansprovided at the end ofs-said red for varying the efiective length thereof.

' RAYMOND M. ULRICH.

REFERENCES oi'rnn Theifnllowing references are of record in the Pokorny etal. Mar. 29, 1949 

